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Our effort to save our planet by understanding our Hydrosphere
What is the Hydrosphere?The hydrosphere, often called the "water sphere," includes all the earth's water that is found in oceans, rivers, streams, lakes, the soil, groundwater, and in the air. Water, the universal solvent and the liquid that support life in this planet, covers approximately 71% of the Earth surface and it is present in three different states: Solid (ice), Liquid (water), and Gas (water vapor). The Hydrosphere fueled by solar energy interacts with, and is influenced by, all the other earth spheres. The Hydrosphere continuously interacts with the Lithosphere, the Biosphere and the Atmosphere. The hydrologic cycle traces the movement between these spheres. For example, we study ocean topography and surface height in order to better predict and understand global ocean circulation and heat budget which are critical elements that affect short-term changes in weather and longer-term patterns of climate.
Hydrospheric Missions:http://ghrc.nsstc.nasa.gov/camex/ CAMEX 4The Fourth Convection and Moisture Experiment CAMEX4 was a NASA sponsored field campaign. The goal was to improve forecasting of hurricane tracking and intensity at and near landfall by studying the full life cycles of critical weather systems through the use of dedicated aircraft and ground stations. TOPEX/PoseidonTOPEX/Poseidon (T/P) is a joint NASA/CNES mission which images global distributions of sea level with unprecedented accuracy and precision. The primary instruments are radar altimeters designed to determine the radial distance between the satellite and the ocean surface by a precise measurement of the round trip time of flight of the radar signal. This distance can be translated into a measurement of the sea level along the T/P ground track given accurate knowledge of the location of the satellite in earth orbit. For more information on Hydrosphere go to: |
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